Amateur (Ham) Radio BS and Callsign Thread!

I'd probably shoot mobile in the truck. It's got the nice audio, but the lows it has in the voice band might get lost in weak simplex


I do like the audio of ftm-400. Sounds nice

 

Mobile. Can use altitude to your advantage when airborne

 

Yea I'd think mobile, get something geared for aviation without having to 'hack' it

 

I'm not aware of an aviation ham radio. If it exists it will be 3x as expensive. It wouldn't be hard to wire in though. Simple switch to swap my PTT.

 

Idk what I'm talking about

 

Sounded good though

 

Had an idea. Emailed KM4ACK about it. The TM-V71A (as of 2018) and most other crossband repeaters lack remote control functionality through DTMF.

I want to build a DTMF decoder and CAT control device out of an Arduino (Atmega). I found libraries. Anyone else half decent at coding on here?

 

Good catch. One of the reasons I bought a TM-V71 was the remote control capability, then after I hooked it all up I learned they don't do that anymore I still love the radio, just wish I knew that before I bought it.

 

7 hours away from an auction ending for straight key. Hope to be doing some sending practice soon. CW, here I come!

Also, setting up a crossband repeater for home. Considering either two KT8900 radios or a Retevis crossband handheld. Both are already available.

Also installing an FTM-400 in my 1992 beater Toyota pickup as soon as it arrives from @Newlife.

 

Hey radio users,

Super newb here at TW. Wondering if ya'll have any recommendations on a 1st mobile radio for the Taco ?

Been contemplating purchasing this Uniden Pro 520 XL.

$67 Uniden PRO520XL Pro Series 40-Channel CB Radio. Compact Design. ANL Switch and PA/CB Switch. 7 Watts of Audio Output and Instant Emergency Channel 9. - Black

https://www.amazon.ca/Uniden-PRO520...den+PRO520XL+Pro+Series&qid=1600403546&sr=8-8

Or should a 1st time user, just stick to a BaoFeng portable instead?

Thanks for your advice and recommendations.
Aaron

 

Do you wheel with others? What do they use? Do you have a amateur radio license? Are you willing to get it? Those will supply your answer.

 

Hey Joshua.

• Do you wheel with others? Not yet. No.
• What do they use? Haven't wheeled with anyone. Not doing that until I have full skid plates and rock rails. Coming soon to a Taco near me.
• Do you have an amateur radio license? yup.
• Are you willing to get it? already have it.

BTW, your questions don't actually answer my question, as the question wasn't if I have a radio license or if I wheel with others.

My question is asking for a recommendation on a type of mobile radio to have in the taco?

 

Your asking about a CB in a Amateur Radio thread..... SMH

How far do you need to talk? All comes down to how $$ do you want to spend.

Didnt make aware you were already an amateur, I havent notice you post in this thread....

 

I’d like to get a scanner. Just for fun for listening to local stuff. PD, Fire, Airport, Weather, etc. I wouldn’t be transmitting. I’m just interested in listening for now. And maybe getting into it deeper as a hobby later.

Can you guys recommend a good sub $100 scanner?

 

First I would find out what kind of system they use, Digital, trunking and start from there.

Not many municipalities use non encrypted, non trunking units anymore.

 

Yup. CB is cheaper.
Yup. Amateur radio is more funds.
Yup. Commercial licensed radio is even more than amateur.
Yup. I have not been on this thread.
Yup. I have a ham radio operator license. Its been several years since I've used it but figured it's like riding a bicycle.
Yup. Everything in life always comes down to money.
Yup. I'm a newb to TW.

How far do you need to talk?
> lets say minimum 50-kilometres (32 miles)
> Terrain: could be Canadian Rocky Mountains, or the plains of Saskatchewan, or the Badlands of Manitoba, or the Ice roads of the Northwest Territories.
> Obviously the mountains are the largest concern as air-waves travel further over the distance of a flat field. Which is everything from where I live East to Quebec. However where I live and West to the Pacific Ocean is all mountains all the time.

If you have any recommendations on a radio, that'd be great!

 

I wasn't trying to give you sass but we didn't know who you wanted to talk to and what your experience was. You also mentioned two very different radios with two very different intentions on their use. If you have a license, get a ham radio. If you aren't wanting to talk to hams, get a CB. So from your answers, my response would be get the Baofeng. But for a more complete answer, please keep reading.

I don't plan on ever putting a CB in my trucks since I am not interested in trucker talk. I'd do GMRS if I had friends that didn't have their ham license.

I think there is a lot more universality in amateur radio than others so I'd try and sway you that way. So many radios to choose from in ham radio and the only way to pick one is to figure out what you want to do with it and what technologies are around you.

Quick thought process:
Do you have digital repeaters around you and what digital mode do they use?
Do you have 2m and 70cm repeaters? Do you need both bands?
Do you want to do APRS (position reports/tracking/messaging?)
How much money are you willing to spend?

I purchased a $500 radio for my first radio. I wanted quality and I wasn't sold on the Chinese handhelds. If you want to stick with it and have something worth while, pick a good quality radio. I run a TM-V71A in my Tacoma. I also have a FTM-400XDR and TM-281. I think the TMV-71A will stay in my truck for the long haul. It can listen to two frequencies at once and is a dual-bander (2m and 70cm.) I hardly ever use 70cm but it is there if I want it. I also run APRS on it all the time. It isn't super feature packed but has enough to get the job done and a little more. It can also act as a repeater if I need it to.

If you aren't sure you want to stay in it and spend that much, the TM-281 is a single band, single channel radio for under $200. It can work repeaters, has plenty of memory options, and the output is 65w (15w more than most mobiles.) It is considered a work horse as it has been around forever and they tend to keep on ticking even after hard work and neglect.

But there's a long list of other radios that work great. I'd suggest not getting a cheap Chinese for the truck but it is still an option. They pick up ignition noise easier, don't transmit well inside the vehicle, and are very low power.

Hope that helps some. If you narrow down your potential uses, we could continue to narrow down your options.

 

My first amateur radios were 2 Icom IC-v8000, i was just a tech and i already purchased a HF radio. Kenwood TS-480HX

Still have one of those IC-v8000 for basestation.

 

I would like to keep the TM-281 as my base station but I'll need 70cm base station soon instead. To get out of my house to the local repeater system, I have to set up a cross band repeater on the hill. It's a 2m repeater so that leaves me with 70cm cross-banded. So many radios!

My neighbor has an icom as a base station. Good looking radio. He's about to have the same problem as me though; 2m radio but need 70cm.

 

What kind of problems are you and neighbor having?